South Korean stands trial for overpass incident

JAKARTA (JP): The trial of a South Korean superintendent in charge of the construction of a flyover that collapsed and killed three workers in March began yesterday at the West Jakarta District Court.

According to Prosecutor Antasari Azhar the defendant, HBL, a deputy general manager superintendent at PT Hanbo Corporation, had ignored construction procedures, which led to the collapse of the loop ramp in Grogol on March 22.

Three workers were killed and several others were injured in the joint project by Hanbo and an Indonesian firm, PT Bumi Karsa.

According to the indictment, which was translated by an interpreter, HBL told a foreman and several workers to dismantle the bracings of the structure supporting a section of the loop ramp, claiming it was strong enough to stand on its own.

"You must take off all the bracings and assemble them on the right side," Antasari quoted HBL as telling the workers.

Antasari said this instruction contained "lack of attention to the concrete pouring, which was only four days old ... "

The defendant, he said, should have realized that the concrete was not strong enough. This, Antasari said, amounted to negligence on the part of the defendant.

As a result, part of the flyover cracked and collapsed, killing Surya Jaya, Wandi bin Otong and Saman bin Emon.

If found guilty, the defendant faces five years in prison, according to Indonesian law.

Another South Korean, identified only as KHW, will soon also be tried for similar charges.

A senior detective at the West Jakarta police station told reporters separately that the dossiers of HBL's superior will be submitted to the prosecutors' office "as soon as possible".

The superior "will definitely be brought to trial" separately, the detective, requesting anonymity, said. (anr)